Now comes word of how the balloting finished up. Your favorite Fulham goal monger, U.S. international Clint Dempsey finished fourth. The top-four rundown:

1. Robin Van Versie, Arsenal

2. Wayne Rooney, Manchester United

3. Paul Scholes, Manchester United

4. Clint Dempsey, Fulham

Van Persie, with 34 goals in all competitions this year for Arsenal, won the award in a landslide. Dempsey, meanwhile, finds himself in fine company with two giants of fabled Old Trafford.

If doubt remains that Demspey has put together the snazziest, most high-achieving season yet for any Yank abroad, this pretty much erases it. Fourth in this vote is as close to “official” as you’ll get.